Garrison Keillor and Diane Wilson to headline community read event

Minneapolis City leaders are launching the second year of One Minneapolis One Read, a citywide “read” where the entire community is encouraged to read the same book and join in a community conversation.

This year’s selection is “Spirit Car: Journey to a Dakota Past,” a book of vignettes created by author Diane Wilson to honor the lives of her Dakota family. The story of Wilson’s family begins with a vivid account of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 in Minnesota and then follows her family members’ nomadic travels across South Dakota and Nebraska in their struggle to survive.

This year’s community read begins with One Read week, set for Sept. 19 – 24, which launches months of community conversations as neighborhood groups, book clubs, libraries, literary centers and others come together to discuss the book. One Read week will culminate in an evening with Garrison Keillor and Wilson at 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 24 at the Minneapolis Convention Center Auditorium. Garrison Keillor is the host and writer of A Prairie Home Companion and The Writer's Almanac heard on public radio stations across the country. He is also the author of more than a dozen books, including Lake Wobegon Days, The Book of Guys, Love Me and Homegrown Democrat.

Tickets for the One Read evening are now available at www.ticketworks.com or 612-343-3390. Tickets are $10; $5 for seniors, students and limited income (for those tickets, select the $10 option and choose “apply discount” before purchasing).

People are encouraged to start their own conversations with family, friends, coworkers or neighbors. City employees are encouraged to participate in this community endeavor. You can find a host of ideas for how to be a part of One Minneapolis One Read at www.OneMinneapolisOneRead.com.

“Spirit Car” is available in paperback at local independent and chain bookstores, online booksellers and www.mhspress.org. It’s also available through Hennepin County Library and as an e-book. Readers who wish to learn more about the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 may wish to visit the Minnesota History Center’s exhibit about the war which ended with hundreds dead, the exile of the Dakota people and the largest mass execution in U.S. history.

The City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County Library and Minneapolis Public Schools are jointly leading One Minneapolis One Read with a goal of promoting literacy and respectful public dialogue. At its heart, One Minneapolis One Read is a community-driven effort with individuals, neighborhood groups, educators, businesses and nonprofits all coming together to make this a truly citywide read. Minneapolis residents can play a positive role in their communities and explore important – sometimes difficult – issues that they face as a community by reading “Spirit Car” and getting involved.

Last year’s One Read book was “The Grace of Silence,” a memoir by Michele Norris that describes the experience of the Norrises as the first black family on their block in a south Minneapolis neighborhood. This year’s One Read program, as well as last year’s program, is supported by Tom C. Braun, Clear Channel Outdoor, Comcast, GoKart Labs, Gray Plant Mooty, Guthrie Theater, kreativesmith, McFarland Cahill Communications, Metro Transit, The Minneapolis Foundation, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), Sophia.org and The YWCA of Minneapolis.

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Accessibility: For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats, contact 311. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.